As the Cubs head home to Chicago from their season-opening trip out west that saw them looking like they could easily outscore the Bears, crews at Wrigley Field were busy power-washing, sweeping, and dusting to get ready for Monday’s home opener. The 2015 season saw the Cubs open in a ballpark far behind schedule. The bleachers weren’t completely ready for fans’...

When I wandered around Wrigley Field (1060 West Addison Street) last fall, just after our beloved bleachers were reduced to scrap, I marveled at the task at hand, impressed such destruction could be rebuilt in time for Opening Day 2015. Well, send me to Triple AAA and call me naïve. Because sure enough, as you no doubt are aware by now, nary a fan shall catch a home run ball within the...

As the Cubs head home to Chicago from their season-opening trip out west that saw them looking like they could easily outscore the Bears, crews at Wrigley Field were busy power-washing, sweeping, and dusting to get ready for Monday’s home opener. The 2015 season saw the Cubs open in a ballpark far behind schedule. The bleachers weren’t completely ready for fans’ backsides until June, and let’s not even talk...

When I wandered around Wrigley Field (1060 West Addison Street) last fall, just after our beloved bleachers were reduced to scrap, I marveled at the task at hand, impressed such destruction could be rebuilt in time for Opening Day 2015. Well, send me to Triple AAA and call me naïve. Because sure enough, as you no doubt are aware by now, nary a fan shall catch a home run ball within the Friendly Confines until at least May. In...

The billion-dollar transformation of venerable* Wrigley Field (1060 West Addison Street) continues, with major changes evident from the outset. We’ve been to the Wrigley renovation rodeo before, and knew for a long time that the changes would be dramatic, but there’s still something disturbing about seeing diggers hacking the venerable ballpark to pieces before our eyes. Chicago Architecture Blog photographer...

The latest expansion and renovation of Wrigley Field is officially happening. Grounbreaking ceremonies were held on Friday and work is already underway of the half-billion dollar project that includes moving the ballpark outward, building a new office building and hotel, and a number of other updates. The Cubs are hoping the first phase of construction will be complete by opening day next year. But that requires some cooperation...

The venerable ivy-festooned baseball park known as Wrigley Field is getting bigger. You’ll remember that as part of the latest renovation plan, the Cubs are buying some city rights-of-way, since the stadium at 1060 West Addison Street has pretty much maxed out the block it sits on. Here’s the update from the ball club: Portions of Waveland and Sheffield avenues will be closed as part of a land transfer from the City of...

This week the local media went nuts with word that a final deal on the Wrigley Field expansion plan had been approved by the city. That’s almost true. What happened is that the city’s Landmarks Commission voted seven to nothing in favor of the renovation. There’s still lots more paperwork to do before anyone can start moving dirt. On WTTW television Friday night one of the Chicago Tonight panelists astutely...

It’s one of the inevitable rites of spring. Along with the smell of your neighbor’s freshly mown lawn, rooftop bikini-spotting from the Brown Line, and the closure of Chicago beaches because Milwaukee can’t seem to keep the poo out of our common pool, the Cubs have release yet another Wrigley Field expansion plan. Wrigley Field expansion is only slightly less complicated, drawn-out and dramatic than a Mexican...

It’s both instructive and fascinating to listen to a master designer talk about the creative process. A good example is Andrew L. Metter, Epstein’s principal designer. Metter described a number of recent projects last week during an AIA presentation. Epstein has a philosophy of creating a sustainable world, and Metter’s work illustrates that concept. He tries to find opportunities for regeneration in urban planning and design...

The latest plan to renovate Wrigley Field got a big thumb’s up from the Chicago Plan Commission last night, and a change of heart from 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney, meaning the half-billion dollar plan is pretty much a done deal. Procedurally, it still has to be approved by the entirety of the Chicago City Council, but council members almost never vote against the recommendation of the alderman in whose ward a project is...

The Chicago Cubs own the record for the longest stretch without a World Series win. Can a renovated, revitalized Wrigley Field change their fortunes, and perhaps lift the 104-year old curse? Whether or not a modern, digital scoreboard (inside the park) and shiny new office building and hotel (outside the park) turn the team around isn’t known. What is clear: the changes to Wrigley Field and the surrounding neighborhood will bring in...